Remove Marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act:
Support the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019

Organizational Support: endorsed by NORML, the National Cannabis Industry Association
(NCIA), and the Veterans Cannabis Coalition.

Dear Colleague,
Even though 33 states have legalized medical marijuana, 10 states and D.C. have legalized adultuse marijuana, and 68 percent of Americans support legalization, marijuana is still listed under
Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. Enforcing federal prohibition of marijuana will
only serve to increase incarcerations, prevent invaluable research into its medicinal benefits, and
create financial barriers for businesses.
We invite you to cosponsor the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019. This
legislation removes marijuana from Schedule 1 and eliminates criminal penalties for individuals
who grow, buy, or use marijuana in states that have chosen to legalize and regulate a consumer
marketplace. The majority of states already support decriminalization and have implemented
either a regulated medical or adult-use marketplace, thus it is imperative and timely that we pass
this legislation.
This bill would achieve the following:
● Allow states to make independent choices as they pertain to marijuana laws;
● Permit federally insured banks and credit institutions to provide basic banking services to
the existing and future legal businesses without risk of federal intervention;
● Reduce the War on Drugs’ $51 billion annual cost to taxpayers;
● Protect the rights of 73 million Americans living in states that have legalized adult-use
marijuana;
● Protect the rights of the Americans living in the 33 states that have passed a medicalmarijuana program;
● Permit medical use and innovation in the marijuana industry to achieve healthcare goals,
including pain management, opioid addiction therapy, treatment for seizures and those
with epilepsy, cancer treatment, treatment for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ALS,
and PTSD, among others; and
● Prevent the Department of Justice from trampling on state sovereignty and creating
uncertainty in state-legalized marijuana programs.
The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019 is our opportunity to remove marijuana
from the federal Controlled Substances list and to allow our states the freedom to regulate
marijuana as they choose, without federal inference.

 We welcome your support in cosponsoring this legislation and urging House leadership to bring
it to the floor for a vote. If you have any questions or if you would like to sign on, please contact
Patrick Koetzle (Patrick.koetzle@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Gabbard’s office or Jesse von Stein
(jesse.vonstein@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Young’s Office.
Sincerely,
Tulsi Gabbard
Member of Congress
Don Young
Member of Congress